Asp

Asp, common name for a venomous snake of the cobra family. Also called the Egyptian cobra, it is found throughout northern Africa. The asp was worshiped in ancient Egypt and was used as the symbol on the crown of the pharaohs. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra is believed to have killed herself with an asp. Other venomous snakes also known as asps include the European asp, or asp viper, and the horned sand viper. See Cobra; Viper.

Scientific classification: The asp belongs to the family Elapidae and is classified as Naja haje. The European asp, classified as Vipera aspis, and the horned sand viper, classified as Cerastes cornuta, belong to the family Viperidae.